Shoe-stretching device



Oct. 29, 1929. f `G. s LovE 1,734,014 I S EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE CE ToRNEY f UNE Patented Oct. 29, 1929 GEORGES, Lvn'or`| SAN FRANCISCO; CALIFORNIA, AsSIGNoR or oNE-IIALFT'o-'THCMAS MULLENDER, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA SHO-STRETCI-IING DEVICE z Application 1ed-Apri1 7,

largement `in any one particular direction, as

ordinarily results from Vthe use of present appliances, in which two operaticns in different directions are required to obtain a longitudinal and a lateral stretching.V

A further object of thevinvention is the provision ina shoe-stretcliing device of an actuating member so positioned as to assume a central place in the shoe-upper when posi- -tioned foruse, thus affording ready access to the actuating member after insertion, as

Ywell as facilitatingthis insertion.

-; An additional object'isto provideashocstretching device of the character designated Y constituting a sectional last ,formedof four divisional parts, comprising the toe, ball, instep and ankle portions, these'being divided longitudinally into matchingl sections adapt- -ed to part vertically and provided with means lrnortised within. these parts, as thus formed, to cause the lateral expansion of the two halves relative to each other, and also combining means for causingthe longitudinal movement of the heel-piece constituting the third section ofthe ,last o r form. Y

ySupplementary to the foregoing is that of providing a shoe-stretching device that is of ,simple v and relatively cheap, construction, ,readily inserted in place within the shoeaof easy and simple manipulation, and of positive action-in diverse directions. y

In the accompanying drawings, forming a l 'of this specification, and, in which, simiv lar characters of reference referto like parts,

throughout;

Figure l is a longitudinal view of shoestretching device, taken along the V.vertical A parting line 4dividing `the last into twoinatching sections, showingtheexpanding mem- I bers in section, the actuating means4 therefor in elevation, andthe heel-piece also voperable 192s. seriai No. 268,121.

therethrough, the section being indicated by the line l-l in Figure 2; i v Y' Figure 2 is a plan section, taken through the'last on the line 2 2, of Figure 1, showing the main last expanding member in place between the matching halves of thelform, and` also the rear end or ankle expanding member and the heel actuating member of the form; Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken through thetoe portion of the last or form, showing the toe expanding member in place between the vertically lsplit halves thereof, the section being indicated by the line 3--8 in Figures l and 2; and

Figure 4 isa face view of the heel section of the form or stretcher. Y

Referring toV the drawings with greater particularity, the device shown comprises a sectional shoe last, or form, 5, formed of substantially tlireecmajor parts embodying the longitudinally divided matching sections 6 .and 7 forming the toe section 8, ankle section Y 9, and instep section 10, divided vertically, as indicated at 112, and forming, as a whole, av shoe-fitting last having an attached heel section 13 adapted for longitudinal inovemen relative to the last sections 6 and 7 y 'Y rfhe various sections constituting the last, when in assembled relation, provide a shoefitting last of a size adapted forready insertion into shoes offvarying sizes, carrying asV constituent elements meansl for the simultaneous expansion of the various shoe parts for vthe more comfortableaccommodation of the feet of ,those we'arers s0 unfortunater as to have provided themselves with undersized shoes.` Y The means for causing the expansion of the vtoe sections,the instep sections, and ankle lthrough the ankle sectionslof the last and,-

in turn, communicating in the ankle section 9 with convergent faces 20 and 21 formed respectively in the ankle portions of the divided sections 6 and 7 of the last.

A substantially wedge-shaped ankle eX- panding member 22 fits into the opening 23 formed by the convergent faces 20 and 21 and functions to cause the expansion of the ankle vsections of the last and to adjust the heel section 13 longitudinally to simultaneousl stretch the shoe lengthwise.

T e wedge-shaped member 14 and the member 22 are provided with axially aligned threaded bores 24 and 25, of right and left thread respectively, for the reception of the right and left threaded ends 26and 27 of a revoluble spindle 2 8 positioned longitudinally in the hollow interior portions 18 and 19 of the last sections.

The actuating means for causing the rotation of the spindle 28 consists of a fixed bevel gear 29 and a meshing bevel gear 30 pinned to a vertically disposed shaft 31 projecting above the upper portion of the last and bearing a fixed hand-wheel 32 at its upper end. The shaft 31 is supported in position by means of a bearing bracket 33 having a vertically'disposed boss 34 and a horizontally disposed boss 35 in which the spindle 28 is free to rotate, the bracket being supported in position by means of a transversely arranged pin 36 having threaded ends 37 and 38 formed at its outer ends for the reception of nuts 39 and 40 and washers 41 and 42. The pin 36 has its extremities extending intov opposed bores 43 and 44 formed in the ankle sections of the matching members 6 and 7, respectively, the bores being provided with shoulders 45 aud 46 at their inner ends providing Yopenings of va size approximately equailing lthat of the diameter of the-pin 36. The extremities of the ,pin are provided with coil l springs 47 and 48 arranged between the washers 41 and 42 and the shoulders 45 and 46, so that the urge of the springs will tend to normally hold the matching sections 6 and 7 together, the pin also serving as a support to assist in holding the shaft 31 and wheel 32 ing 52 adapted'to receive the outer end 27 of the spindle 28, as clearly shown in Figures land 4.

The wedge member- 22 abuts against the plate 49 of the heel piece and as the heel piece is movedrearwardly by the spindle to expand the ankle section of the last itvsimultaneously moves the heel piece outwardly to lcause the lengthwise stretching of the shoe.V

The'outer end 27 of the spindle extends through the slotted plate 49 of the heel piece 13 and projects into an opening 52 formed in the heel piece for its reception, this projecting n to cause the lengthwise stretching of the shoe,

all sections, including the toe, ball, instep, ankle and heel sections of the shoe being simultaneously and uniformlystretched by the one single operation. K

Having thus described my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a devicek of the class. described, a sectional last embodying longitudinally disposed matching sections comprising toe, ball, instep and ankle sections and a detachable heel section, opposed expanding members interposed between said sections and adapted to cause lateral expanding movement of said matching sections and the longitudinal movement of said heel section, and actuating means mounted between said matching sections and coacting with said expanding members to cause the lateral movement of said matching sections and the longitudinal movement of said heel section to uniformly expand all portions of a shoe in a single operation.

2. In a device ofthe class described, comprising a sectional last embodying longitudinally disposed matching sections forming the foot portion of a shoe stretcher,'a heel section detachably associated with said matching sections, expanding means coacting with said matching sections and said heel section to cause the lateral expansion of the former and the longitudinal movement of the latter, and actuatingV means common to both 'said expanding members to cause their longitudinal movement in opposed directions simultaneously. f

3. In a device of the class described, a sectional last embodying longitudinally disposed Vmatching sections forming the foot'portion `of a shoe stretcher, a heel section associated pand saidv members.

p 4. In a device of the class described, a see-k 'tional last embodying longitudinally divided matching sections forming the foot portions of a shoe stretcher, a heel section at'the heel Yend of said matching sections, a longitudinally disposed right and left threaded spindle mounted between said matching sections, mortised sections formed in saidV matching sections, wedge-shaped expanding members disposed in said mortised sections and havingA threaded openings to receive opposite extrem-V ities of said threaded spindle, and means coacting with said threaded spindle to cause its rotary movement and the consequent movement in opposed directions of said expanding members to force said matching sections latterly and said heel section outwardly in one single operation.

5. In a device of the class described, a sectional last embodying longitudinally disposed matching sections forming the foot portion of a shoe stretcher, a heel section associated with said matching sections, a right and left 2o threaded spindle longitudinally disposed between said sections, expanding members carried by said spindle and adapted to expandv said matching sections latterly and to move said heel section outwardly therefrom, and

means carried by said spindle and centrally disposed in the shoe upper to cause its rotary movement to expand said members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE s. Lovn. 

